Riding home from work last night up Forest Road in Walthamstow, usual big queue of traffic waiting at the lights, so did my usual of overtaking them to get to the front. As I made progress the lights went to green and the traffic started moving so I moved in to the left slightly (out of the way of the oncoming traffic) then all of a sudden was aware of a white vehicle to my left moving outwards and turning right into a side road !! Now I was too far forward (and to be honest going too fast) to stop so I ended taking the impact to my left side then the back of the bike was all over the place. Somehow, I don’t know how, I managed to keep the bike upright (maybe I should be a motocross rider) and brought it to a stop .
Got off the bike and had a right go at the driver about using his indicators and mirrors (he reckoned he did use his indicators, to be honest I can’t remember) then ended up giving him a lecture about most motorbike fatalities being due to cars turning right across the bike’s path. He must have though I was some kind of copper or something !!
Anyway he was sh1tting himself, asking if I or the bike was damaged. My foot and gear lever took the brunt of the impact, bruised foot and shin (thank fook I was wearing boots) gouge out of the leather on the bots and a slightly bent gear lever which to be honest is more comfortable now…:crazy:
Had a long think about it afterwards and realised that the couple of close shaves I’d had previous to this were always when overtaking.
I most of you are probably more than aware of this, but do be very careful when overtaking, especially the more inexperienced among us. No point in rushing home to see the family if you don’t make it…
Needless to say I was much more careful this morning…
Glad you are ok mate, but you make a valid point…filtering is fine, and the law supports it, but you have to extra vigilant when filtering - way more vulnerable than Mr or Mrs Cage/van/lorry/bus etc. Need be aware of your speed, your ability to stop on a sixpence if required, and assume everyone else is blind and will do what you think they wouldn’t.
Never assume - you will pay the price eventually! Hopefully a lesson such as yours, rather than anything worse.
Majority of bikers have had a SMIDSY at some point or other. Outcome varies, but can be fatal!
Ride safe, within your limits, and appropriately for the environment you’re riding in.
Glad you are OK mate, we have all been there at some point and I believe some of us learn by our mistakes while others seem not to:crazy:
I would probably be branded a slowcoach when it comes to filtering. I spent many years commuting into town on bikes and the one bit of advice I learnt from a bike cop years and years ago is not to look at the car/van itself but LOOK AT THE WHEELS
The front wheels of a cage will turn before you notice the body moving, be it steering turn or rolling turn. (does that make sense?)
Now if I’m filtering past a car and see the front wheels going onto full lock I slam my brakes on!
I’ve lost count of the number of U turns I’ve witnessed 3 feet in front of me:)
This applies for cars waiting to pull out from a side turning too, you will notice the wheels rolling before you see the body move.
I don’t profess to be a great rider or an advanced whatever but its sound advice I am happy to pass on:)
As as I am concerned you should never go past a vehicle unless you have an escape strategy for if it all goes wrong, for example, if it starts to turn do you have room to stop or enough road to swerve without hitting oncoming vehicles. Always be extra cautious where there are side turnings, and always expect a pedestrian or cyclist to come out from in front of every vehicle you can’t see over etc. You won’t impress many people riding like that, but you will get to your destination.
Good advice…to which I would add…Always take extra care in the last 3 miles home, you often switch off from full concentration on the roads you are familiar with …
Thanks for all the comments / advice / sympathy etc.
Interesting tip about looking at the wheels, will definitely try that technique, gotta try not to fall foul of ‘target fixation’ though :pinch:
I suppose my filtering / overtaking had got a bit ‘daring’ in my relatively short time riding - I’ve noticed people in front or behind me pulling in between vehicles where I would have just kept on going.
Maybe yesterday’s mishap was a wake up call ? :doze:
Sorry to hear you had a knock. Some sound advice too… not filtered yet and I’ve seen cars trying to filter in and out… dunno how they do it! As I’m new on a bike and been driving cars/vans for 13 years, I forget I can nip up the outside and sit in traffic. I will get the confidence.
A point about the last 3 miles home and familiar roads. My mum always says ‘familarity breeds contempt’
Complacency,biggest problem with filtering,doing it every day you become slack.Got to watch the cars all the time.If you’ve got room,get out wider so you can see further down the line and spot things earlier.
Very lucky and glad your alright as that could have got very nasty, i come across idiot cagers everyday who just do register bikes in there head or vision.
And at a very few quid for each Observed Ride the best value extra training you could get. Track days are good for knowing what your bike can do - IAM training is better for a safe, smooth, swift and prolonged life on traffic-filled roads with all sorts of unexpected hazards. Making Progress doesn’t need a big bike, it needs an engaged brain.
